U.S. patent number 7,118,121 [Application Number 10/801,582] was granted by the patent office on 2006-10-10 for stroller frame structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Link Treasure Limited. Invention is credited to Huang-Yi Cheng, Ming-Chi Tsai, Tse-Chien Wu.
United States Patent |
7,118,121 |
Cheng , et al. |
October 10, 2006 |
Stroller frame structure
Abstract
A stroller frame structure includes a front wheel rack, a rear
wheel rack, a first linkage assembly, a coupling dock, a handle
tube, a release mechanism, an armrest and a second linkage assembly
that are pivotally coupled with one another. The handle tube has a
lower end movable to allow the second linkage assembly to drive the
first linkage assembly to move downwards to form a V-shaped folding
thereby to move the front wheel rack and the rear wheel rack close
to each other or extend to achieve smooth folding.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Huang-Yi (Chia-I Hsien,
TW), Tsai; Ming-Chi (Yunlin County, TW),
Wu; Tse-Chien (Kaohsiung, TW) |
Assignee: |
Link Treasure Limited (Tortola,
VG)
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Family
ID: |
32173926 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/801,582 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20040222615 A1 |
Nov 11, 2004 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 6, 2003 [TW] |
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92208252 U |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/642;
280/47.38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B
7/08 (20130101); B62B 2205/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62B
7/06 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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3935108 |
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Apr 1991 |
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DE |
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2179897 |
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Mar 1987 |
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GB |
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2185450 |
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Jul 1987 |
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GB |
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2285775 |
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Jul 1995 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Ellis; Christopher P.
Assistant Examiner: Bottorff; Christopher
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch &
Birch, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A stroller frame structure, comprising at least: a front wheel
rack coupling with front wheels of a stroller; a rear wheel rack
coupling with rear wheels of the stroller and also pivotally
coupling with a first linkage assembly and a coupling dock between
two ends thereof, the first linkage assembly having a free end
pivotally coupling with the front wheel rack so that the front
wheel rack and the rear wheel rack are movable relative to each
other; a handle tube for moving the stroller pivotally coupled with
a connection element between two ends thereof to serve as an
armrest of the stroller, the armrest having one end pivotally
coupled with the front wheel rack and the rear wheel rack, the
handle tube being latchable on the coupling dock to form a
releasable interlocking condition among the rear wheel rack, the
armrest and the handle tube; and a second linkage assembly coupling
with the handle tube and the first linkage assembly to drive the
first linkage assembly when a lower end of the handle tube is moved
to move the front wheel rack and the rear wheel rack close to each
other in the middle for folding or extending the front wheel rack
and the rear wheel rack, wherein the first linkage assembly
includes a front seat rack bar and a rear seat rack bar, one end of
the front seat rack bar and the rear seat rack bar being pivotally
coupled with a pivot coupler, the front seat rack bar being
pivotally coupled with the front wheel rack, the rear seat rack bar
being pivotally coupled with the rear wheel rack, and the front
seat rack bar and the rear seat rack bar forming a straight line
when extended, and forming a V-shape when driven by the second
linkage assembly and folded towards each other.
2. The stroller frame structure of claim 1, further comprising a
release mechanism which includes an actuation member, a linkage
member, an elastic element and a latch element, the linkage member
bridging the actuating member and the latch element, the latch
element being latched on the coupling dock through the elastic
element to allow the entire frame structure to form an interlocking
condition, and the latch element being movable away from the
coupling dock through the linkage member driven by the actuation
member to collapse the frame structure in a folding condition.
3. The stroller frame structure of claim 2, wherein the linkage
member is a steel bar.
4. The stroller frame structure of claim 2, wherein the linkage
member is a flexible wire.
5. The stroller frame structure of claim 2, wherein the actuation
member is replaced by a remote controller on the handle tube to
drive the linkage member to control latching and releasing of the
latch element and the coupling dock.
6. The stroller frame structure of claim 1, wherein the second
linkage assembly includes a rotary member and a driving member, the
rotary member being pivotally coupled with the rear wheel rack and
having two ends coupled with the handle tube and the driving
member, the driving member bridging the first linkage assembly and
the rotary member, and the rotary member being turnable to drive
the first linkage assembly downwards for folding.
7. The stroller frame structure of claim 6, wherein the driving
member has one end coupled with a pivotal coupler.
8. The stroller frame structure of claim 6, wherein the driving
member has another end coupled with a front seat rack bar or a rear
seat rack bar.
Description
This utility application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(a) on Patent Application No. 092208252 filed in Taiwan on May
6, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stroller frame structure that
has a first linkage assembly pivotally bridged on a front wheel
rack and a rear wheel rack, and a second linkage assembly driven by
a handle tube to actuate and fold the first linkage assembly in
V-shape, to move the front wheel rack and the rear wheel rack close
to each other for folding.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional strollers for carrying a baby usually have a linkage
bar consisting of rods pivotally engaging with one another. A
release mechanism is used to control a joint assembly located at
the juncture of the rods. The joint assembly has a latch mechanism
which may be released or latched to collapse the stroller to a
folding position or unfold the stroller to an extended position.
For instance U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,235 discloses a convertible
stroller. However, it has a complicated frame structure consisting
of coupling linkage bars. This is quite difficult to assemble. As
it has many rod elements, the total weight of the frame structure
is greater. This is not easy to carry and move. Folding movement
cannot be smoothly executed and could result in a troublesome
operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the problems set forth above, such as complicated frame
structure and a not smooth folding operation, the present invention
aims to provide a stroller frame structure that includes a front
wheel rack, a rear wheel rack, a first linkage assembly, a coupling
dock, a handle tube, an armrest and a second linkage assembly that
are pivotally coupled with one another. The handle tube has a lower
end movable by the second linkage assembly, to drive the first
linkage assembly to move the front wheel rack and the rear wheel
rack close to each other in the middle or are extended thereby to
achieve a smooth folding operation.
Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein;
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the invention in an extended
condition.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the invention in a folding
condition.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the release mechanism of the
invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the release mechanism of the
invention in an operating condition.
FIG. 5 a schematic view of the release mechanism of the invention
coupled with a remote controller.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the invention in a folding
condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stroller frame structure 90
according to the invention mainly includes a front wheel rack 1, a
rear wheel rack 2, a first linkage assembly 3, a coupling dock 4, a
handle tube 5, a release mechanism 6, an armrest 7 and a second
linkage assembly 8 that are pivotally coupled with one another. The
frame structure may be in an extended condition (as shown in FIG.
1) and a folding condition (as shown in FIG. 2).
In one embodiment of the invention, the first linkage assembly
includes a front seat rack bar 31 pivotally coupled with the front
wheel rack 1 and a rear seat rack bar 32 pivotally coupled with the
rear wheel rack 2. The front seat rack bar 31 and the rear seat
rack bar 32 are pivotally bridged by pivot coupler 33 so that they
can jointly form a sitting area for seating a child when extended.
The front wheel rack 1 and the rear wheel rack 2 may also be folded
in V-shape when the stroller frame 10 is collapsed.
The second linkage assembly 8 is pivotally coupled with the first
linkage assembly 3. The second linkage assembly 8 includes a
driving member 81 and a rotary member 82. The rotary member 82
pivotally bridges the handle tube 5 and a rear leg tube. The
driving member 81 pivotally bridges the rotary member 82 and the
first linkage assembly 3 (in this embodiment, the driving member 81
has one end pivotally coupled on the pivot coupler 33 of the first
linkage assembly 3).
The handle tube 5 includes a pair of handle racks 51. The release
mechanism 6 is located on the handle racks. The handle racks 51 are
pivotally coupled with the armrest 7 and the rotary member 82 of
the second linkage assembly 8. The handle racks 51 have a free
distal end. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the release mechanism 6
is mounted on the handle tube 5. It includes an actuation member
61, a linkage member 62 (may be a steel bar or a flexible wire), an
elastic element 63 and a latch element 64. The coupling dock 4 is
fixedly mounted on the rear wheel rack 2. The latch element 64 is
located on the free distal end of the handle rack 51 and connected
to the actuation member 61 through the linkage member 62. The
elastic element 63 can maintain the latch element 64 in a latched
condition with the coupling dock 4 on the rear wheel rack 2. By
pulling the actuating member 61, the linkage member 62 may be
driven to move the latch element 64 away from the coupling dock 4
(referring to FIG. 4). In another embodiment, a remote controller
60 may be used to connect the linkage member 62 to operate the
release mechanism single-handed (referring to FIG. 5).
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the front wheel rack 1 has one end
pivotally coupled with the armrest 7 and another end coupled with a
front wheel 10 of the stroller. The front seat rack bar 31 of the
first linkage assembly 3 is pivotally coupled in a middle portion
between the two ends thereof.
The rear wheel rack 2 has one end pivotally coupled with the
armrest 7 and another end coupled with a rear wheel 20 of the
stroller. The rear seat rack bar 32 of the first linkage assembly
3, the rotary member 82 of the second linkage assembly 8 and the
coupling dock 4 are pivotally coupled on the rear wheel rack
between the two ends thereof. As the first linkage assembly 3 is
bridged on the front wheel rack 1 and the rear wheel rack 2, the
second linkage assembly 8 can drive the front seat rack bar 31 and
the rear seat rack bar 32 in V-shape for folding, so that the front
wheel rack 1 and the rear wheel rack 2 may be moved close to each
other.
By means of the elements and construction set forth above, when the
stroller frame 90 is in extended condition, the latch element 64 of
the release mechanism 6 is latched on the coupling dock 4 to make
the elements and rods and bars in an interlocking condition. To
fold the stroller frame 90, pull the latch element 64 through the
release mechanism 6 to escape the coupling dock 4, and push the
handle tube 5 forwards, the rotary member 82 of the second linkage
assembly 8 turns with the handle tube 5 about the pivotal point of
the rear wheel rack 2 to move the driving member 81, therefore the
first linkage assembly 3 are folded in V-shape, and the front wheel
rack 1 and the rear wheel rack 2 are moved close to each other.
In summary, the stroller frame structure according to the invention
is simply structured and very convenient. It provides a significant
improvement on conventional strollers.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set
forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed
embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof
may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended
claims are intended to cover all embodiments, which do not depart
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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